Organising a creative, adventurous and contented life

August 2012

31/08/2012

Plastics drawer. I know there are advantages and disadvantages to different types of containers and packaging, but this has what has ended up working the best for us (bar the mountain of plastic containers to wash up each evening!). And it's all in a handy pull-out drawer in the middle of the kitchen where I access it several times a day.

When the kids were at preschool, and occasionally at school, there have been times when we've had to pack "nude food" lunches, with no packaging and minimal containers. I don't mind using a bit of cling wrap when I have to, but overall, I find putting snacks and lunches into containers the easiest.

Here are some features of my rather extensive plastics collection :)

Top left: A container holds spoons for eating from the thermos's or fruit tubs. The little thermos's next to them have been brilliant for hot lunches at school, usually spaghetti, soup, or ravioli.

Bottom left: Sturdy rectangular lunch boxes that are easy to wash.

Top right: All the lids for all the containers stored vertically for straightforward matching.

The rest: Lots of containers in different sizes (tiny for sultanas and sauces; small square and rectangle for snacks, medium and large for grown-up lunches and leftovers).

I also double-use containers as their own storage, for example, spoons, lids, and tiny containers all sit within larger ones.

27/08/2012

There are so many good crafters in my family that somebody had to be lousy at it—and I’m happy for that person to be me! I like to give quirky, handmade cards though, so I either use the method in this post to make them, or I give one of my mother’s beautiful handmade cards.

I admire many the beautiful papers and cardboards associated with scrapbooking, even though I will never scrapbook. To use these materials properly, though, I always thought I had to embellish or add to them in some way.

Then one day as I was flipping through a book of my mother's gorgeous sparkly card, I thought: this is perfect just as it is (aka Bridget Jones).

So I bought a thick book of diverse and intricately-designed card for twenty dollars. With the simple method I use, I’ll get hundreds of cards out of it.

When I’m in the mood, I cut out lots of different cards—masculine, feminine, adult, child, get well, congratulations. It’s amazing how easy it is to find a colour and pattern that suits any occasion. I make small cards the size of gift tags, as well as standard sizes. I don’t do or add anything else; I just pile them into a box to draw from for special events.

I could use a guillotine for straight cutting, and something that scores the paper to make neat folds, but I don’t ;-) I divide up the page using a ruler and pen, then cut with scissors, and fold with frequently misplaced optimism. But as the card is coming from me, the recipients don’t have high expectations.

22/08/2012

I love the thought of having something new and interesting (it doesn’t have to be purchased) lined up to read, watch, or do. I prefer not to bring something home and store it away too soon, or let it get mixed up in piles of other stuff.

In the office, I have a little bookcase all to myself :) I’ve set aside one of the shelves for my anticipation/inspiration shelf. Much pleasure lies in looking forward to something, so I like to drag this out a bit!

When I get a new book or movie, for example, I put it on this shelf rather than filing it away in the bookcase or TV cabinet.

My shelf usually holds a small and varied collection of books, magazines, music, movies, articles, and tickets, amongst other things. Sometimes they are from my current collection, as a reminder that I want to watch or read them again. I walk past it often, and it cheers me up.

20/08/2012

I recently reviewed a paper from the Journal of Consumer Psychology about how we can better spend our money to increase our happiness (Dunn, Gilbert, & Wilson, 2011). US researchers Joseph Chancellor and Sonja Lyubormisky have expanded upon the concepts presented by Dunn, Gilbert, and Wilson, and focused on thrift as an additional way we can simultaneously spend less and boost our happiness.

The paper is full of fabulous ideas, and I’d like to highlight a few of the authors’ findings for you.

Chancellor and Lyubomirsky referred to studies that show negative events can impact us more, and for longer, than positive ones, thus if we can reduce, avoid, or remove something negative in our lives, it can be just as good (or better) for our happiness as chasing feel-good moments or purchases. The authors suggest getting out of unnecessary debt, and we could also consider toxic relationships and bad habits.

The researchers also examined how we can extend pleasurable experiences and purchases. They suggest deliberately paying attention, appreciating and being grateful, and thinking how much poorer our life would be without the event, relationship, or possession. This reminds me of a famous quote from the Greek philosopher, Epicurus: “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

The authors of both this paper and the earlier one also suggest lengthening our enjoyment by “dividing consumption into smaller doses and separating it out over time” (p. 134), which gives us that initial hit of satisfaction over and over again, rather than cramming it all in at once. A bit like buying a DVD of a favourite TV series and watching an episode each night, instead of one marathon session (you may disagree!).

Another intriguing concept is “recycling happiness”. Instead of always wanting to buy new things and chase new adventures, we can also still get happiness from the old ones! We do this by being creative with what we already have, and what we’ve already done, such as: wearing our clothes in new combinations; looking through holiday photos and videos; or using our slow cooker to make a delicious new recipe.

16/08/2012

Finding and filling gaps, and figuring out how to improve ourselves and our surroundings is part of our natures. It’s sometimes easier to focus on what’s lacking in our lives, rather than what we have in abundance (or overabundance).

Let’s look around and find something we have enough of, so we can acknowledge and appreciate it.

A clue is anything we tend to spend indulgently on (for me it’s books and clothes). When we pause and see that we’re not really doing without, we can draw a line and stop adding to our lives unnecessarily (this is the magic line beyond which things become clutter).

11/08/2012

I love coming across a new idea that can make a positive difference. That’s why I was excited to learn about Dr Adam Fraser’s new book, The Third Space, recently released by Random House Australia.

Adam explores the moments between activities and roles—how we can let go, rest, and position ourselves for the next space we are moving into. He calls the phases Reflect, Rest, and Reset. The third space is the middle-ground between what we’ve just done (the first space) and what we’re doing next (the second space).

The technique is researched and evidence-based, which is important for a “self-help” idea to be effective. I love that it considers overlooked moments, and that the process can be superimposed upon what we already do, thus not taking extra time.

Having worked with many elite athletes, Adam draws some great examples from sport about the importance of transitions. Who hasn’t admired the highly focused players in an intense tennis match? A good player can let go of the last shot (no matter how well or badly it went) and be ready for the next with a freshly focused mind. They concentrate on mastering their serve or return while releasing thoughts about the outcome. Over the course of a match, what an athlete does in these small gaps between performing make a huge difference.

Being able to let go of what has gone before and get ready for what is coming next, even when we have to do it quickly, is just as important in everyday life. It helps us be more consistent with our values and behaviour, and improves the quality of our relationships and experiences.

Adam also explains that one of the solutions to chronic busyness is having clearer intentions about each space we move into, rather than doing less, which might not be realistic (I’d like to argue for both). Using our in-between moments better is an excellent antidote to rushing and feeling overwhelmed. Adam describes how the cognitive, sophisticated part of our brain that does the planning, processing, and organising (the neocortex) can shut down in these circumstances and let the primitive part responsible for emotions and the fight or flight response take over.

This happens to me fairly regularly, and it’s nice to find out why! It’s even better to discover a simple solution. Short, mindful pauses clear out and “reboot” the neocortex and allow it to function well again. These periods of rest are also when our creativity usually flourishes.

Let’s become more conscious of the many micro-transitions we go through each day, and use them to bring greater balance and happiness—both to ourselves and those around us.

08/08/2012

In the novel The Time Traveler’s Wife, the central character, Henry, calms himself by reciting the periodical table in his mind. When I’m stressed, I mentally plan a packing checklist :) Nothing as far-fetched and romantic as thinking I’m going to take off for some foreign destination (usually), but just imagining how lightly I could pack for a trip and still have everything I needed.

Inspired by Miss Minimalist, I recently bought a shoulder-bag which I thought would be perfect for a trip of one to three days. But to pack it and still feel like I have everything I need would be challenging.

So, here’s my scenario. I would travel on the train to visit my sister. I would probably stay two nights, so there’d be half-days travelling there and back, and a day with my sister in between. Who knows what we’d get up to, but I’d want to pack for a range of options. Let’s say it was Spring, when the weather was changeable.

Clothes to wear:

T-shirt

Cargo pants

Cardigan (a part-wool one which is warm and light)

Socks

Black walking shoes

In the outside pocket of the bag:

Wallet

Mobile phone

Sunglasses

Keys

Hand gel

Tissues

Clothes inside bag (in a small module):

Spare underwear and sock set x 2

Dressy top

Maxi skirt

Travel dress to wear to bed (could double as an extra outfit if needed)

Hygiene bag:

Cleanser

Moisturiser

Sunscreen

Concealer

Foundation powder

Foundation brush

Lipstick (to also use as an eyeshadow and blush)

Round brush

Toothbrush (could borrow toothpaste)

Basic medicine

Other:

iPod in pocket

A book (if I had a Kindle, I’d take this)

Water bottle

Muesli bar

Mesh bag (for rubbish, clothes, or purchases)

Hat

I’d shower and wash my hair before I left so I didn’t have to pack shampoo and conditioner (I could borrow it anyway). I’d also charge my mobile. I've chosen to pack an extra set of clothes because I really don't want to wash what I'm wearing each evening.

One day I’ll try this out and report back! I guess this is also a good list to have in case I need to go somewhere in a hurry.

Can you travel for a few days with only a shoulder-bag? If so, how realistic is my list or do you think I can refine it further?

05/08/2012

There are two full tubs at the bottom of the linen cupboard at the moment. Between my sisters and I we have children of alternate ages from 4 up to 10, so we pass along children’s clothing from one family to the next until they are absolutely worn out! At the moment, one sister is living interstate and the other is overseas, so I am storing the backlog :) Just wait until I next see one of them...

A central spot for returns is a simple way to consolidate these items, and means I can check in one place when a friend or family member visits to see if there’s anything I need to give back to them. Store returns also go here.

01/08/2012

One of my favourite TV characters, Rory Gilmore from The Gilmore Girls, always carried several books around in a backpack with her. She wanted to make sure she had something to read, but was never sure which genre she was going to feel like. Whenever we saw her waiting, she was absorbed in a book.

There are many of us with a similar philosophy, partly contributing to the surging popularity of e-readers. I was particularly bad as a teenager, often with my head in a book while I walked down the street. And I spent so much time reading in the car, when it was time to get my driver’s licence, I didn’t really know how to find my way around (I am sad to say it was a small country town so it shouldn’t have been difficult!).

One of the pleasures of reading, though, is the way you can do it anywhere. It’s cheap, portable, and comforting. Dipping into a good book or magazine can make you feel at home wherever you are.

It’s also lovely to read about something near where it happened. A friend of mine read Into Thin Air at Everest Base Camp. I’ve not been quite so adventurous, but I remember how much I was enjoying reading We of the Never Never as we drove through the Northern Territory of Australia. The only problem was a visit to the site of the old homestead and cemetery written about in the book—before I’d finished it. Of course, the ending was revealed, and I stood there wishing for the equivalent of a real-life spoiler alert :)

Here are a few ideas for managing reading on the go (if you don't have an e-reader):

Think about where you will be, what you will be doing, and how much time you will have when choosing your reading material.

Try not to overwhelm yourself with too much choice. An achievable pile of reading is more motivating than taking too much.

Set a limit, such as two books and one magazine.

To help you decide, or if you have to grab something quickly but still want to make a good decision, make a fast and unfiltered pile of everything you might possibly want to take. Then sort quickly into three piles: definitely want to read; maybe; and not really. Discard the last two piles, and choose from your pile of definites.

Place books and magazines into their own bag or module, which will protect them and allow you to move them easily between other bags and locations.

A good time to purchase a new book or magazine you’ve wanted is when you have a trip coming up. Set them aside so you have something extra to look forward to.

If you are travelling light, you can buy or borrow books from many different sources—airports, friends, fellow travellers, bookshops, hotels, caravan parks, laundries. Then trade or leave them in a public place for someone else to read.

I’d love to hear how you organise reading material while you travel, or even whether you take a book or e-reader with you every time you leave the house?